Word Origin & History

personal late 14c., "pertaining to the self," from O.Fr. personel (12c., Fr. personnel), from L. personalis "pertaining to a person," from persona (see person). Meaning "aimed at some particular person" (usually in a hostile manner) first attested 1610s. The noun sense of "newspaper item about private matters" is attested from 1888. As "a classified ad addressed to an individual," it is recorded from 1861. Personal computer is from 1976.

Example Sentences for personals

I often look over the "Personals," for I know well the connection between fortune and the Press.

He was pointing to a paragraph in the "Personals" column of the New York paper.

It will be observed that in the last line the song drops out of the first and the second personals into the third.

She had just finished her personals when she heard the whistle of the morning train.

His first work was attending to announcements and personals in the papers.

But Personals, my dear Star, Personals are the things that pay.

So far as relates to the personals, this will would be valid, though not signed by the testator, supposing no other will to exist.

Personals were inserted in the papers, begging Ned to communicate with his father, but Ned never thought of looking for them.

"Read these personals and I will tell you," was the sobbing reply.

She was running over in her mind all the material at hand which could be worked into personals to appear in the "Mirror."